Kohli: People are writing lies, I have never asked for rest
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Virat Kohli revealed that he was informed that he would no longer be India's ODI captain by chief selector Chetan Sharma just an hour-and-a-half before India's Test squad to South Africa was announced on December 8.
Virat also confirmed that he was available for the ODIs in South Africa and all the buzz about him opting out were "lies".
"I was contacted one-and-a-half hours before the selection meeting on the eighth [December] for the Test series," Kohli said at a press conference.
"There was no prior communication to me at all since I announced the T20I captaincy decision until the 8th of December, where I got a call before the selection meeting. The chief selector discussed with me the Test team, to which we both agreed,” he said.
India Test captain also said there has been no other communication on any of the matters.
“And before ending the call, I was told the five selectors have decided I will not be the ODI captain, to which I replied, 'okay, fine', and in the selection call afterwards, we chatted about it briefly. That's what happened. There was no communication prior to that at all," he added.
"I was and I am available for selection. I haven't had any communication with BCCI where I have asked for any break. I am available for selection for ODIs in South Africa. People are writing lies. I have never asked for rest."
Meanwhile, Kohli said that Rohit is a very able captain and tactically very sound.
"My responsibility is to push the team in the right direction. Rohit is a very able captain and tactically very sound. Along with Rahul bhai, who is a great man manager. They will get my 100 percent support in ODIs and T20Is," he added.
It must be noted that Kohli stepped down from the captaincy in T20I format after the World Cup. BCCI removed him from the ODI captaincy before the South Africa tour. He will lead the side in Test cricket while Rohit will captain the side in the limited-overs format.
